Foxes See Off Rams in Style

Leicester City 4:1 Derby County

Leicester eventually overwhelmed East Midlands neighbours Derby 4-1 at the KPS on Saturday evening, after losing control of the midfield for half an hour…

City, with Konchesky in for Schlupp at left back, had enjoyed four consecutive wins over their neighbours and got off to a great start in this televised evening kick-off.
In the 6th minute Waghorn’s corner from the left found Whitbread 8 yards out, his downward header beating  Legzdins for his first goal in a City shirt.
Waghorn then went close with a 25 yard free-kick which was curling into the top left hand corner before Legzdins clawed it away.
It was all City, and all Waghorn, at this stage with another free-kick after a Coutts handball finding the top of the crossbar.
He then acrobatically volleyed a Dyer cross goalwards but Legzdins managed to block.
The almost inevitable second goal arrived in the 23rd minute when an O’Connor error allowed Knockaert through. He squared for Vardy who played a clever ball through for Waghorn to stroke home the goal he so richly deserved.
It looked like game over at this stage but then Nigel Clough stuck an extra man in midfield and the Rams wrestled control from City.
Coutts forced a save from Schmeichel and then the City keeper was beaten seven minutes before the break after a neat move saw Jacobs setting up Robinson for a good finish.
It was almost worse for City as Schmeichel blocked a Sammon effort with his legs, but they took a slender lead in with them at half time.
The second half saw Derby continuing to run things, though City should have gone ahead when Dyer lashed a shot in which Legzdins blocked but the rebound fell to Knockaert; unfortunately hitting him on the arm.
Schmeichel then blocked a Robinson effort before Nigel Pearson brought on Marshall and Nugent for Dyer and Vardy.
Waghorn broke down the right and lifted the ball over Legzdins, but found the woodwork yet again. City didn’t have long to wait for a goal however, as the subs combined. Marshall ran through the Derby defence down the left before delivering a perfect cross for Nugent to nod home.
That was the end of the Rams’ resistance and Nugent added another in the 89th minute, to make it ten goals in two home games, getting a sweet half volley to a Drinkwater pass that flew into the top right hand corner.

Nigel Pearson was happy with his third placed team:  “It was an outstanding start to the game for us. I think that’s the best we’ve played. We totally dominated and to get two goals in that period was fully deserved. I was a bit disappointed that we were only one goal ahead at half-time, but I think we kept our composure well in the second half.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Whitbread, Konchesky, Knockaert (James 80), King, Drinkwater, Dyer (Marshall 66), Vardy (Nugent 66), Waghorn. Unused Subs: Logan, Schlupp, Moore, Futacs.

Derby: Legzdins, Brayford, Keogh, Buxton, O’Connor (Freeman 77), Coutts, Hughes, Hendrick, Robinson (Tyson 81), Sammon, Jacobs (Bennett 85). Unused Subs: Fielding, O’Brien, Davies, Hoganson.

 

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Durham). Attendance: 20,680.

 

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City Hit Ipswich for Six

Leicester City 6:0 Ipswich Town

A rampant City recorded their biggest winning margin since 1982 over a poor Ipswich side at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon…

City hit their stride straight away against Mick McCarthy’s fragile looking side and they were ahead by the 7th minute. Dyer’s sprint down the left ended with him being brought down by Town keeper Henderson and Nugent confidently planted the spot-kick home.
It was all City, and ten minutes later Nugent doubled the lead. Waghorn had cut in from the right and his curling left-footed effort was saved by Henderson but fell perfectly into Nugent’s path and he didn’t have to break stride to chest it into an empty net.
By the 27th minute it was already beginning to look like a damage limitation exercise for the visitors as Dyer hared down the left again, and outstripped the Ipswich defence before beating Henderson with a low shot.
At this point Nugent, still suffering the effects of a neck injury from last week, was replaced by Vardy.
This didn’t stop the flow of goals, however. Just before the break the Town defence again failed to cope with a Dyer run down the left and he squared for an unmarked Knockaert to sidefoot home from 12 yards.

The second half saw Waghorn, desperate for a goal, head a Dyer cross against the post, but he didn’t have long to wait.
In the 53rd minute a clever through ball from King teed up Waghorn for a curling effort beyond Henderson’s reach. Every outfield player joined Waghorn’s celebrations in the back of the net for a hugely deserved goal.
City enjoyed the lion’s share of possession for the rest of the game, and Vardy was denied by a good Henderson block.
But City broke the scoring record since the move from Filbert Street in the 82nd minute.
Dyer again was the creator, this time running through the middle before finding substitute Futacs who slotted home through a crowded area.
It was City’s highest winning margin since a 6-0 win over Carlisle in 1982, and put Nigel Pearson’s side firmly back on track after four games without a win…

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Whitbread, Schlupp, Knockaert (Marshall 64), King, Drinkwater, Dyer, Nugent (Vardy 30), Waghorn (Futacs 74). Unused Subs: Logan, James, Moore, Lingard.

Ipswich: Henderson, Orr, Chambers, Higginbotham, Cresswell, Edwards, N’Daw (Hyam 58), Reo-Coker, Martin, Campbell (Chopra 78), Murphy (Emmanuel-Thomas 58). Unused Subs: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Smith, Bilel.

 

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Attendance: 20,779 (990 away)

 

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Beckford Signs… Waghorn and Kermorgant Depart

City’s transfer deadline day business could be summed up as one in two out…

Jermaine Beckford completed his signing of a four year contract, after some late night negotiations, with City thought to be spending up to £4M including future add-ons.
The 27 year old scored 10 goals for Everton last season after a prolific spell at Leeds which saw him net 85 goals in just 152 appearances.
Beckford is Sven Goran Eriksson’s 12th signing of the summer.  

Martyn Waghorn, last summer’s big signing, has joined the ex-Leicester City enclave at Hull in a loan spell keeping him at the KC Stadium until January.
Yann Kermorgant, who will forever be remember for his play-off semi final penalty howler, has reached a mutual agreement with the club to terminate his contract and is now a free agent.

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Late Waghorn Strike Downs Robins

Leicester City 2:1 Bristol City

A late, late goal by substitute Martyn Waghorn earned City all 3 points from their Friday night home game against Bristol City…

Sven Goran Eriksson stuck with the same starting XI that won at Derby and for a while it looked like business as usual with a large crowd (the result of some clever marketing) enjoying a bright start from City.
Yakubu missed out on an early opener when he connected with a Naughton cross, but was off target.
James then made two fine saves from Gallagher and Bamba, but then slipped up to give City a 21st minute lead. Although the England keeper should have cut out a low Bamba cross from the right, he merely deflected the ball into the path of Yakubu who instantly found the net.
James made amends later in the half, denying King in a one-on-one, not something that many keepers have managed this season.
And Bristol refused to lie down, piecing together several good attacking moves and testing Mee and Bamba at the back. Woolford should have helped put the Robins level, but Bamba was on hand to block his cut back to an unmarked Keogh, as ever.
The visitors continued to press after the break and levelled in the 57th minute when Elliott nodded home a McAllister corner.
Far from being content with a point Bristol continued to press and Adomah forced Ricardo to parry away his fierce shot. The Portugese keeper than had a wobble, dropping the ball int he danger area, but it was scrambled clear.
City wasted a great chance to go ahead on the break when a square ball from Vassell found Oakley and Dyer both unmarked, but Oakley’s first touch allowed James to come out and smother the danger.
At the other end a deflected shot from Woolford left Ricardo stranded, but the ball fell the right side of the post as far as City were concerned.
With five minutes remaining Sven brought Waghorn on for Vassell…
City had lost their shape, too many passes were going astray and, for the first time in weeks, they were employing the long ball forward, which wasn’t making a dent on Bristol’s big back-line. Then came a slice of fortune that seems to favour a club that is on a roll.
An attempted clearance hit Oakley on the back of the head and the rebound fell nicely for Waghorn who lashed the ball past James from an acute angle for a delightful late winner.
City had not played particularly well, and had still won the game, a sign that everything is going for us as we close in on those promotion places.
Sven said of his matchwinner: “He was knocking on my door twice or three times a week during the transfer window, but I think he is happy to stay here now. He works very hard in training and lately he has doing a great job when he comes on. He is physically strong and a hard worker, and his finish was extremely good and very important for us.”

Leicester: Ricardo, Bamba, Naughton, Mee, Van Aanholt, King, Oakley, Wellens (Abe 78), Yakubu, Gallagher (Dyer 64), Vassell (Waghorn 84). Subs Not Used:  Weale, Bruma, Berner, Vitor.
Bristol City: James, Fontaine, McAllister (Nyatanga 64), Carey, Caulker, Elliott, Cisse, Woolford, Adomah, Clarkson (Campbell-Ryce 76), Keogh (Maynard 59). Subs Not Used: Stewart, Gerken, Johnson, Pitman.

Referee: R. Booth (Notts). Attendance: 28,768.

City Ease to Victory in Bangkok

Thailand 0: 2 Leicester City

City enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win over the Thai national side at the Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday with goals from Martyn Waghorn and Paul Gallagher…

City were never really stretched and looked in control of the game from the moment Waghorn’s smartly struck shot on the turn gave them a 10th minute lead.
Waghorn then hit the bar with an effort before Gallagher doubled City’s lead in the 34th minute, curling a shot across goal in at the far post after being sent clear down the left.
Just before the break N’Guessan was stretchered off after being prevented from scoring with a last ditch tackle. 
Kennedy, Moussa and Moreno were introduced for the second half as City continued to dominate, but couldn’t add to the scoreline.

Howard had one effort disallowed and another well saved by Thamasatchanan and Oakley and Waghorn also went close, but Sven Goran Eriksson had to be content with a 2-0 win in his first game in charge.

City: Weale, Lamey, Morrison, Hobbs, Berner, Gallagher, Wellens, Oakley, N’Guessan, Howard, Waghorn. Subs: Moreno, Logan, Kennedy, Moussa, Parkes, Ikeme.

Powell and Stowell Get Back to Basics

Leicester City 3:1 Scunthorpe United

With heir to the throne Sven Goran Eriksson watchig on, Chris Powell and Mike Stowell proved that getting on in the Champsionship is not rocket science, as they beat Scunthorpe 3-1 at Filbert Way on Saturday…

Powell and Stowell made three changes to the side that lost at Norwich with Vitor, Berner and Gallagher in for Lamey, Kennedy and Oakley.
There was a scrappy start to the game but City got a 10th minute goal vital to settling those nerves. Gallagher sent Waghorn through and he negotiated his way round a Scunthorpe challenge before clipping a left foot shot round the keeper and just inside the left hand post.
This was just the start City needed and it lifted a small crowd that looked some 3,000 under the official attendance.
United, led by for City player Ian Baraclough, rarely threatened City, a shot on the turn from Forte straight at Ikeme being their best effort.
Dyer had a good shot on the run saved by Murphy and Howard sent a header narrowly wide with City winning the midfield battle. Howard should have made it 2-0 near the break when a poor backpass fell for him but he somehow prodded the ball wide from close in.
City should have extended their lead early in the second half when an error in the Iron defence presented Dyer with the ball in front of goal, but he elected to square to Waghorn and over-hit his pass.
Dyer made amends a couple of minutes later, after bursting into the penalty area his shot was blocked, but he swiftly regained his feet to fire in another shot past Murphy and into the net. 
This should have signalled a comfortable afternoon for City, but it seemed to galvanise United who were allowed to press forward, and they pulled a goal back on the hour.
Nolan’s long range shot smacked against the right hand post and Dagnall hit the rebound back into the goalmouth where O’Connor glanced a header past Ikeme.
PowellNStowell brought Abe on for Gallagher before Waghorn missed out on a chance to restore City’s two goal lead, blasting a shot over the bar when well placed.
Scunthorpe had City longing for the final whistle during one attacking spell, but neither Wright or O’Connor could take their chances and Wellens also headed an effort off the line. 
Moussa came on for Dyer in the 87th minute, and it was th eformer Southend-man who finally put the result beyond doubt in the third minute of time added on. King squared for Moussa and he slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner from the edge of the area. Chris Powell showed his delight and enthusiasm joining in the players celebrations and even giving the linesman a hug. 
With Sven Goran Eriksson set to be named new City manager today it looks as though Powell and Stowell will have a 100% win ratio to their names.
Leicester: Ikeme, Berner, Hobbs, Miguel Vítor, Morrison, King, Dyer (Moussa 87), Wellens, Gallagher (Abe 67), Howard, Waghorn. Subs Not Used: Kennedy, Logan, N’Guessan, Moreno, Neilson.
Scunthorpe: Murphy, Byrne, Mirfin, Nolan, Canavan, Togwell (Collins 78), Woolford, Wright, Forte, Dagnall, Grant (O’Connor 56). Subs Not Used: McClenahan, Raynes, Slocombe, Boyes, Godden.

Referee: G Hegley (Hertfordshire). Attendance: 20,652.

Feathers Ruffled..

Norwich City 4:3 Leicester City

Leicester slid to their third defeat on the spin last night and although they looked good going forward they were, once again, the architects of their own downfall.

Paolo Sousa made five changes to the side that was humiliated at Fratton Park last Friday with Ikeme, Lamey, Kennedy, Hobbs and Wellens in for Logan, Berner, Vitor, Neilson and Abe.

City got off to the best possible start when they took the lead in the second minute as Waghorn wriggled past two defenders before firing in a low shot at the near post that squirmed from the grasp of Ruddy in the Norwich goal and over the line.
Norwich responded positively and deserved their equaliser when it eventually came on the half hour when Crofts side-footed home from ten yards after a pull-back from the byline by Holt.
The Canaries kept the heat on until half time when City would have been the more relieved to hear the whistle.

The second half was played at a frantic pace with both sides going forward at every opportunity but it was the home side that grabbed the lead on 53 minutes when Hoolahan converted a penalty that was harshly awarded when Morrison was adjudged to have handled a cross. It was rough on City who would feel like the roof was falling in just nine minutes later when a rapid breakaway move resulted in  Hoolahan releasing Drury on the left and he had (too much) time and room to finish coolly from an angle.
Rather than cave in, City responded well and the introduction of Fryatt, Abe and Gallagher for Oakley, Wellens and Dyer gave the side new impetus and it was no surprise when Fryatt scored to keep the game alive in the 65^th minute. He responded smartly to slam the rebound in to the roof of the net after Ruddy had parried a Howard shot. There was an incident after the goal that was to have repercussions later when Ward grabbed the ball from the back of the net and kicked it shamelessly in the crowd in an act of blatant time wasting. The referee didn’t punish the player and City had a frustrating wait whilst the ball was retrieved from the crowd.
As City poured forward they were caught out at the back again in the 74^th minute as Hoolahan grabbed his second of the night with a stunning half volley beyond Ikeme’s dive and the home side’s two goal advantage was restored.
Once again City responded positively and two minutes later Fryatt reduced the deficit with his second of the night as he finished his run with a cool finish past Ruddy from the angle. Remembering the time-wasting antics after the previous goal, Howard, Fryatt and Norwich’s Leon Barnett sprinted to the back of the net in an attempt to be the first to retrieve the ball. All three players arrived together and after the pushing and handbags that ensued Fryatt was met on his way back to the halfway line by referee Walton who brandished the red card and Fryatt’s night was over.
It was a ridiculous situation that could have been avoided but the upshot was that City had to chase an equaliser with ten men. It was a fruitless effort and Norwich closed the game out comfortably and could have grabbed a fifth goal when Drury shot in to the side netting when it looked easier to hit the target.
City will (rightly) consider themselves unlucky not to have taken something from this encounter but they have to look at themselves to see why they lost: once again too many mistakes led to a goal avalanche, too much possession was conceded, and previously reliable players have lost confidence and form. Sides that succeed at this level are usually the sides that make fewest mistakes and City have once again shown that they are going backwards right now in this regard. Until this changes then the trapdoor once again beckons to the third tier of English football and we must hope that Sousa (or someone else) can find a way to restore confidence and form to a decent squad of players.

As a footnote to the events at Carrow Road last night it is worth highlighting the over-zealous stewarding from jumped up wannabees in high vis jackets. We pay a lot of money to attend matches these days and it is not too much to ask that we be allowed to vent some anger and emotion when events on the pitch warrant it. Last night we were continually hassled by stewards who delighted in telling us to “Sit down and mind your language” and several folk were led out for having committed no bigger crime than swearing at the ref. Was it not Delia Smith who, several seasons ago, demanded more passion from her own fans in a famous rant? It seems that the stewards inside Carrow Road are on a mission to ensure that the passion is amputated from the visiting fans and they will only be happy if we all sit and applaud politely. Special mention goes to the somewhat emasculated female steward who looked like Olive from ‘On the Buses’ and was carrying a copy of ‘The Female Eunuch’ in her pocket (probably)…

Norwich: Ruddy, Ward, Barnett, Martin, Drury, Crofts, Hoolahan (Smith 81), Lappin, Smith, Jackson (Martin 72), Holt. Subs Not Used: McNamee, Fox, Berthel Askou, Rudd, Johnson.
Leicester: Ikeme, Kennedy, Hobbs, Lamey, Morrison, King, Dyer (Gallagher 66), Oakley (Fryatt 54 (sent off 80)), Wellens (Abe 67), Howard, Waghorn. Subs Not Used: Berner, Logan, Moreno, Moussa.

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire). Attendance: 25,091.

 

Lost In Translation – Player Power and ‘The List’

by that Truro off of Bentleys Roof…

I think the transfer window deals have been good for us with Abe and Waghorn in and Campbell out. Like most City fans, I wondered what would happen with the players that reportedly expressed a desire to leave, (reported as Wellens, Gallagher, Fryatt and Campbell [and Hobbs, and Morrison, and King, and Oakley...] as people speculated).
People were talking about them being “transfer listed” but there is no evidence that this was ever the case. For those who don’t know, “the list” is a real thing, not some euphemistic entity used by the tabloids like a “come and get me plea”.
“The List”, or “The PFA Transfer List” to give it it’s proper name, can be accessed by anyone and is used by managers and agents (among others) to see who’s freely available. In days of yore it was a great tool to publicly off-load unwanted players but these days it is generally used to dump kids who haven’t made the grade and aged journeymen, desperate for one last contract (Ade Akinibiyi’s on it to choose a fairly cruel example). The only Leicester player on “the list” is Alex Cisak, a young Polish/Australian goalkeeper.
Few players use “the list” to orchestrate a move these days as it will cost them loyalty bonuses etc. so it will only be those desperate to leave who will make such a public demonstration of their displeasure. In reality, amongst bigger transfers particularly, the list is used as a marketing tool; to apportion blame, show lack of loyalty or whatever might suit the situation.
If City had still not accepted Blackpool’s bids for Campbell at the 11th hour, he may have asked publicly to be transfer listed for two reasons:
1) To remove certain payments owed to him by Leicester – therefore making the deal more financially attractive to Leicester or
2) To overtly show that he no longer wished to play for City – effectively making it impossible for Sousa to pick him.
There will be few cases as transparent as that of Campbell, we all knew he was pining for the Seaside, but he (or his agent) played the game brilliantly – orchestrating the move with the maximum financial return.
Like many things with Sousa, the comments about some people wanting to leave were lost in translation. There are always players who are unhappy; Hobbs because he struggling with form, Oakley because he knows that fans don’t appreciate him, King, Gallagher, Neilson, N’Guessan and Fryatt haven’t been regular in the side while Wellens has never made the difference we all expected. To be honest, with the team at the foot of the table and Sousa’s methods not paying dividends, there won’t be many who AREN’T unhappy in one form or another, while players express a desire to leave far more often than we could ever imagine. Being a footballer is a transient existence at the best of times, and many of them are looking for the next big pay day in a pretty much constant basis, although this is easier if you happen to be an Ibrahimovic or an Adebayor.
My guess is that certain players “had it out” with Sousa, over the style, man management and confusing tactical direction. Let’s face it, he couldn’t be more different than Pearson if he tried, a manager who had the respect and admiration of the overwhelming majority of players, bought many of them (which creates a significant bond between player and manager) and whose style brought us very close to promotion.
So those that “went on the list” never did. They had a moan, and were probably ignored by Sousa, meanwhile we get rid of the Foxes failure that is Campbell, bring back Martyn Waghorn as a replacement and recruit an exceptional International midfielder in Yuki Abe.
Hopefully, the air has been cleared, and the players will start to take Sousa’s ideas full on board, the Portuguese certainly won round one. Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn has put his money where his mouth is and continues to see City as a “Top” Club, both literally and metaphorically.
So, the future could still be bright for Leicester, for Campbell it’ll only be orange.

Waghorn to Return to City

Transfer deadline day should bring some good news for Leicester City fans after a poor start to the season…

Today should finally see the departure of DJ Campbell to Blackpool, which will free up funds towards the £2m that Sunderland are asking for Martyn Waghorn. The Premier League side are, in turn, trying to raise money to offset the £8m needed to buy Asamoah Gyan from Rennes.
Waghorn was a huge hit with City fans last season, scoring 12 goals and showing a huge committment to the cause for a player who was here on loan from his home-town club.
It would also mean that Waghorn’s last kick of the ball for the club was not a missed penalty in a play-off semi shoot-out…

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Sousa Could Inherit Threadbare Squad

Wayne Brown has moved to Preston North End having left City ‘by mutual consent’ following his ‘political’ clash with team-mates on the eve of the Play-Off semi final against Cardiff. 
And it is now being reported that Nigel Pearson wants to sign Nolberto Solano for his new club Hull.
Although the Peruvian was said to have signed a six-month deal with Leicester in May it appears that the contract was not formally completed and he has been training with the Hull squad.

A large chunk has also been taken out of the squad with the departure of all the players who were here on loan last season: Alex Bruce, Jay Spearing, James Vaughan, Ryan McGivern, and, the man who will be most sorely missed, Martyn Waghorn.
Long-term injured Stephen Clemence and James Wesolowski have now gone and Aleksander Tunchev will not recover from a knee-op until September at the earliest.
Chris Powell has retired from playing to concentrate on his coaching role.

That leaves errr………. bring your boots with you to the Sunderland game.

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